Fluid elevator



May 6, 1930. 0, MORGAN ET AL FLUID ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 14, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet In um to r5 liver Morgan Howard Ill/ Straw May 6, 1930. o.MORGAN ET AL FLUID ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U VG?Morgan Ho ward TA]. Sirm'i Patented May 6,. l93d OLIVER MORGAN ANDHOWARD W. STRAIT, 01E WEWOKA, UMIJAHOMA FLUID ELEVATOR Application filedJanuary 14, 1928. Serial Ito. MiG/W7.

5 as aerated columns.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide afluid elevator wherein an eXpansible packer unit is associated with theeduction tube, the same being 10 adapted to be expanded by the action ofthe lifting fluid that is forced downwardly in the well casing or tubingso that a liquid seal is formed whereby to prevent any possibility ofthe lifting fluid coming in contact with the 715 liquid within the lowerportion of the well casing and disturbing the sand.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a fluid elevatorof the above mentioned character which is simple in con- 20 struction,inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purposesfor which it is designed.

@ther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicatecorrespond ing parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an oil well casing showing the eductionpipe in elevation and showing the enpansible' paclrer in tightengagement with the inner wall oi. the well casing.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the well casingshowing a per tion of the eduction pipe or tube in section and alsodisclosing more clearly the manner q in which the eirpansible paclrer isforced out wardly against the inner wall of the well easing to. providea liquid seal.

Figure 3 is a group perspective view of eapansible packer and the bowedsteel spring wires associated therewith; the ring to which theconverging ends 01" the wires are secured; and also the supporting unitfor the paclrer and the adjacent portion of theeduction pipe or tube,the parts being disassembled.

Figure a is atransverse sectionvtalren substantially on the line H oiFigure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is'a similar section taken approximately on the line 55 of.Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of theliquid inlet portion of the eduction pipe.

in the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred cmbodt ment of our invention, the numeral 1. desig' nates theusual casing that extends downwardly into the well in the manner wellknown in the art, and which is provided at its lower end with the liquidinlet openings The upper end of this casing is open and secured thereonis the head 3 that is located above the surface of the ground.

rln eduction pipe or tube that is designated generally by the numeral 4tis arranged centrally within the casing 1 and the same includes aplurality of sections that are connected together by suitable couplinand the like. The upper section. 5 extends through the head 8 to providea liquid outlet above the surtace of the ground. The lower end of theuppermost section is secured on the upper end of the adjacent pipesection 6 and this section is in turn secured at its lower endto theupper end of the pipe section 7.

The pipe section Fl constitutes what we term as a vacuum chamber and theupper end of this particular pipe section is enternally threaded as isalso the lower end of the next adjacent section 7. itcoupling 9 aii'ordsa means tor connecting the adjacent ends of these pipe sections togetherand this coupling structure is clearly shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings. The coupling is provided with a central partition 10 that istermed in its center with an opening 11, and the upper edge oi theopening is beveled to form a seat tor the vertically movable valve 19;that normally rests on the seat by the action of gravity whereby toclose the opening. it cage 13 is arranged on the upper taco of thepartition 10 around the opening 11 tor the valve also clearlyillustrated in Figure 2 and the cage will prevent the displacement oftili till

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the valve and further limit the upward movement thereof.

The lower portion of the vacuum chamber 8 is reduced as illustrated at14and a neck 15 extends downwardly from the reduced portion 14 as moreclearly shown in Figure 2. An

" annular shoulder 16 is formed in the neck portion 1'. The reducedportion 14 is formed wi a series of fluid passages 17, the purpose 0which will be hereinafter more fully described. a v

A Venturi tube 18 is arranged vertically within the lower portion of thevacuum chamber 8, the lower end of this tube being enlarged and beingexternally threaded at its lower extremity for threadedengagementlwithin the upper portion of the neck and for rest upon theshoulder 16 as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The upper end of thisVenturi tube terminates atthe central portion of the vacuum chamber 8and is of such diameter as to be spaced a considerable distance from thesides of the chamber.

The eduction pipe or tube 4 further includes the provision of the pipesection 19 that is threaded at its upper end and a coupling 20 similarto the coupling 9 aflords a means for connecting the lower end of thevacuum chamber 8'with the upper end of the next lower pipe section .19.A central partition 21 is formed in the pipe coupling 19 and thispartition is also provided with a central opening, the upper edge ofwhich is beveled to form a valve seat and cooperating with thisopeningand valve seat is: the

vertically movable valve 22 which is similar to the valve 12 heretoforedescribed.

A cage 23 is arranged on the upper face of the partition 21 forcooperation with the valve-22 as disclosed in Figure 2.

The pipe section 19 is formed adj acent' its lower end with the externalannular shoulder or flange 24 and the upper face thereof is ground for apurpose to be presently apparent.

The portion of the pipe section 19 directly below this flange orshoulder is tapered as illustrated at 25 with reference moreparticularly to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. This tapered portion isformed with a series of spaced liquid inlet slots 26 that are similar tothe slots 17 formed in the tapered or reduced portion 14 of-the vacuumcham-.

lower end of the lowermost pipe section 29'- is adapted to rest on thebottom of the well. This pipe section 29 provides an anchor and furtherserves to hold up a part of the weight w of the eduction pipe 4. l

The salient part of the present invention relates to an improved packerconstruction and m, the present instance, the packer comprises acupshaped member 31 that is formed ground for engagement with the groundupper edge of the shoulder 24 whereby to form aground seat and a liquidproof joint. An

annular flange or collar 34 is formed on the lower end portion of thesleeve 33 and the upper face of this shoulder or flange is slightlycurved u wardly to conform to the contour of the ottom of the expansiblepacker member 31 and this is clearly shownin Figure 2.

The rubber packer 31 is of a suitablethickness but it will be ,observedthat the upper edge portion of the cup shaped packer is of slightlygreater thickness than the remaining portion of. said member, and thisis also clearly villustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

A have their lower end portions extending downwardly into the upper-edgeportion of the rubber cup shaped packer and the lower end portions ofthese wires extend downwardly along the sides of the body of the packerand along the bottom portion so as to be securely embedded in thepacker.

The upper ends of the steel spring wires 35 gradually converge and aresecured to a ring 36 that is freely slidable over the upper portion ofthe pipe section 19 and is further series of bowed steel spring wires 35j adapted for slidable movement between the lower end of the coupling 20and the upper end of the sleeve 33.

The spring wires 35 normally have a tendency to hold the expansiblepacker31 in a contracted position and obviously by increasing thedistance between the upper end of the sleeve 33 and the cou ling 20, thetension on the spring wires may. e regulated to effect an upwardmovement of the upper converging end portions of the wires and therebyto further contract the rubber packer.-

A compressed air or gas pipe 37 extends into the side of the head 3provided for the upper end of the well casing 1 and a compressordesignated generally by the'numeral 38 and of any well knownconstruction is associated with the pipe 37 as clearly illustrated inFigure 1.

Normally, the rubber packer 31 is contracted and is not in tightengagement with the inner wall of the casing and thereby will, notinterfere with'the placing .of the eduction pipe or tube within the wellcasing. When the arts are arranged as shown in Figure 1, it Wlll beobserved that the air or gas under pressure that enters the top of thecasing will T move downwardly in the 'casingaround the manifestly theair or gas under pressure will pass upwardly through the passages 17into the chamber 8 and create a vacuum within the chamber whereby tounseat the valve 22 and at the same time force the valve 12,,upwardlyout of engagement with its seat. This section will result in a vacuumbeing created in the lower portion of the eduction pipe whereby to liftthe oil or other liquid upwardly through the various pipe sections ofthe eduction pipe and the oil will flow outwardly through the upper endof the eduction pipe.

Simultaneously with the fluid that is under pressure, creating a suctionin the eduction pipe to raise the liquid upwardly in the pipe, a certainamount of the fluid under pressure will travel downwardly below thevacuum chamber and will enter the cup shaped packer 31 and will causethe packer to expand whereby the outer side of the cup shaped packerwill be brought into tighter en agement with the inner wall of the wellcasing 1 and thus provide a perfect liquid seal so that the oil or otherliquid in the lower portion of the casing cannot be subjected toagitation by coming in contact with the liquid under pressure that -isemployed for lifting the liquid. The liquid will enter the eduction pipethrough the inlet passages 26 that are located below the packer unit.

It is of course understood that when the eduction pipe is lowered intothe well, the liquid of its own accord will raise upwardly by its ownvolume and gas pressure. The liquid enters through the passages 26 andpasses upwardly through the tube 18 then a portion of the liquid flowsdownwardly in the chamber 8 and passes out through the openings 17,thence downwardly until the same comes in contact with the eirpa'nsiblepacker whichfits close enough against the casing of the well to hold itin position until the packer becomes more firmly seated by the action ofthe compressed air or gas. The

liquid continues to seek a higher level in the casing.

When the compressed air, or gas comes in contact with the liquid itcauses the latter to travel downwardly under pressure between the casingand the eduction pipe, then upwardly through the passages 17 into thevacuum chamber 8 and then upwardly through the upper portion of theeduction pipe and out of the well. At the same time, while travelingupward through the vacuum chamber a vacuum is created thereby drawingthe liquid through the passages 26.

In Figure 6 there is shown a modification of the liquidinlet portion ofthe eduction pipe. A swage nipple 30'is detachably secured at its upperend to the-lower end of the pipe section 19' through the medium of thecoupling 30. The intermediate portion of the nipple is formed withliquid inlet passages 26, and the lower reduced end 27"is secured to theupper end of the next adjacent pipe section 29' by means of the coupling28. a

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that we haveprovided a fluid elevator which will at all times be positive andefficient in its operation and by providing a packing structure such asabove described, there will be no possibility of the lifting fluidcoming in contact with the liquid in the lower portion of the said wellcasing.

It is of course to be understood that when the fluid under pressure iscut olf to the casing 1, so that the same will not act on the rubberpacker and force the same outwardly, the bowed steel spring wires thathave been placed under tension by the action of the fluid under pressurecoming in contact with the rubber packer will return the packer to itscon tracted position and thereby permit the eduction pipe to be readilyand easily removed from the well casing.

bodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that various changesin the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.-

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fluid elevator, a casing, a liquideduction pipe arranged therein having liquid openings in the lowerportion thereof, and

passages to permit a fluid under pressure to enter the pipe and lift theliquid upwardly therethrough, a packer surrounding the eduction pipe ata point below the fluid inlet pas sage, said packer being normallycontracted and out of tight engagement with the casing, said packerbeingie'xpanded and forced outwardly against the casing to provide aliquid seal by the action of the lifting fluid.

under pressure acting on the packer.

2. In-a packer, an eduction pipe, a sleeve surrounding said pipe, ashoulder formed on the lower end portion of said sleeve, a flange formedon the eduction pipe for engagement with the lower end of the sleeve, anexpansible cup-shaped member for resting upon said shoulder, said sleeveextending upwardly through the bottom of the cup-shaped member, a seriesof bowed spring elements having their lower ends extending downwardlyinto the upper edge portion of the cup-shaped member, the lower edgeportions of the spring element extending downwardly along the sides 'ofthe body of the cup-shaped member and along the bottom thereof, saidspring elements gradually converging toward their upper ends, and aringto which the upper ends of the spring elements alre connected, said ringbeing slidable on the eduetion pipe, the spring elements normallyholding the cupshaped member in a, contracted position. 1 In testimonywhereof We aflix our signatulzes.

' OLIVER MORGAN HOWARD W. STRAIT.

